Visiting the Southwest (SW) Complex

The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) headquarters, known as the “SW Complex”, is in Washington, D.C. There are three buildings in the SW Complex:

  • Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW
  • Wilbur J. Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue, SW
  • Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW

All visitors should be prepared to submit to a personal inspection when entering the SW Complex facilities. These inspections may be conducted with a handheld monitoring device, a metal detector, and by visible inspection. Additionally, your personal belongings may be inspected and passed through an x-ray machine.

Visiting the SW Complex when COVID-19 Community Levels are “Medium” or “High”

All visitors to the SW Complex facilities will be asked to provide information about their COVID-19 vaccination status when the COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM or HIGH in Washington, D.C.

Community Level Masking Screening Testing
Low Not required/Optional Not required
Medium Not required/Optional Required
High Required Required

Even when masking is not required, visitors may choose to wear a mask based on personal preference. The SaferFederalWorkforce.gov website has information on masking and screening testing. These requirements and restrictions are in accordance with Executive Order 13991 on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing and guidance from the Safer Workforce Task Force.

COVID-19 Screening Process

All visitors must follow the COVID-19 screening protocols when the COVID-19 Community Levels in Washington, D.C. are medium or high. Regardless of your vaccination status, you should not visit the SW Complex if you have experienced any of the symptoms listed in the COVID-19 Screening Questions (see below) in the past 48 hours.

When the SW Complex facility’s COVID-19 Community Level is medium or high, all visitors coming on-site are required to self-certify that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or provide documentation (electronic or hard copy results) of a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or professionally proctored antigen test taken in the three days prior to coming on-site. 

All visitors must bring a government-issued ID to present during the security screening process.

  • If you are visiting this facility for any other purpose other than obtaining a public service or benefit, you must complete and present the government provided Certification of Vaccination form to the Security Officer when going through the facility’s security screening. You must keep this form with you during your visit.
  • If you are not fully vaccinated, you must bring documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result taken in the three days prior to coming on-site to show the agency. See the Testing Criteria below.
  • You must follow the HHS workplace safety plans and protocols while in the facility you are visiting.
  • You should direct any request for medical or religious accommodation from HHS safety protocols to the office you are visiting.

If you are visiting the SW Complex to obtain a public service or benefit, you are NOT required to provide information about your vaccination status or negative test results. However, you MUST follow the masking and social distancing requirements and bring a government-issues ID to present during the security screening process.

Visitors who are non-U.S. citizens have additional requirements that need to be met in advance of their visit. Please contact your HHS host office for more information.

Your COVID-19 testing results must meet the following criteria:

  1. The results report must have two dates:
    1. Date sample taken/collected, and
    2. Date negative result provided/reported
  2. The test must be taken within three days of coming on-site
  3. The test must be for SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19
  4. The test must be a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (rapid PCR is accepted, e.g., POCT-PCR) or a professionally proctored antigen test (rapid antigen test is accepted)
  5. Name of individual on lab report must match your government-issued ID

HHS does not conduct testing for visitors. See Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing to learn about the types of testing, how to get an at-home test, and find a testing location near you. Follow CDC guidance for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested, if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Upon entering the SW Complex facilities in Washington, DC, you are self-certifying that you have answered ‘NO’ to each of these questions.

Do not visit the SW Complex facilities if you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the screening questions below:

  • Have you experienced the following symptoms in the past 48 hours?
    • fever or chills
    • cough
    • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • fatigue
    • muscle or body aches
    • headache
    • new loss of taste or smell
    • sore throat
    • congestion or runny nose
    • nausea or vomiting
    • diarrhea
  • Withing the past 14 days, have you been in close physical contact (6 feet or closer for cumulative total of 15 minutes) with:
    • Anyone who is known to have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19? OR
    • Anyone who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19?
  • Are you isolating or quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19?
  • Are you waiting on results of a COVID-19 test?
Content created by Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
Content last reviewed